Understanding Jewelry Metals: Types and Benefits of Popular Materials

Jewelry is not only a great way to express your personality, but also a unique way to project your own personal style to the world. One factor in the decision-making process of choosing your next piece is the type of metal. Commonly, this decision is based on cost alone. However, each metal is an element that provides its own unique benefits. These benefits should be considered alongside price to determine the best overall choice for you.

For thousands of years, gold has been sought after for jewelry. It's beautiful and durable. Gold is also hypoallergenic. It doesn't cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to certain metals. One caveat is that gold is a relatively soft metal. Pieces made of pure gold are very susceptible to scratches and dents. Because of this, gold is usually alloyed with silver, copper, zinc, palladium, nickel, or other proprietary blends of alloy. Gold is also expensive, with pure gold costing around $3,300 USD per troy ounce at the time of writing. Spot prices are found here. To learn more about gold specifically, I've written about it previously here.

Silver is another popular choice for jewelry because of its affordability and versatility. In contrast to gold, silver is roughly $32 USD per troy ounce at the time of writing. As I've written about before, silver has antimicrobial properties, which makes it ideal for those looking for something more hygienic. One caveat is that, unlike gold or platinum, silver will tarnish over time. It has low oxidation resistance. Regular cleaning is necessary to delay it, but the process is ultimately inevitable.

Platinum is a metal that is becoming increasingly popular, especially in Japan. It represents purity. Platinum jewelry is usually 90%-95% pure platinum with 5%-10% either cobalt, iridium, or ruthenium alloyed with it. It has superior durability. Highly valuable stones should be set in platinum heads or settings to ensure the highest level of protection. Platinum is very malleable, allowing very intricate designs to be created with it. Platinum has very high corrosion and oxidation resistance. Because of this, platinum jewelry doesn't require any special care other than periodic cleaning for cleanliness. Because of its high purity and high durability, platinum jewelry is more labor-intensive than gold or silver. It tends to command a premium price.

Choosing between these metals depends not only on your budget but also on your lifestyle needs. Understanding each type will give you greater insight into finding the perfect metal that fits both your budget and lifestyle.